A Kentucky man who pleaded guilty to five counts of burglary said he learned how to break into houses by watching the Discovery Channel show “It Takes A Thief.”

Still, Michael Hobbs, 36, of Waco, probably should have watched a few more episodes.

“He was one of the type of people who would come to the door and ask if [the homeowner] needed any gutter help,” said a cop. “Then the houses around there would get burglarized. That’s just not coincidental.”

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A common strain of e-mail – that’s neither spam nor personal communication – has been given a name.

Welcome, bcan, or bacon – those inbox-clogging surveys, announcements and bargains that have all been authorized.

“It’s relevant e-mail you’ve opted to receive either by signing up for a service, joining a Web site or subscribing to content,” Andrew Foote, of the New York public-relations firm Peppercom, said.

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A woman attacked a 15-foot Burmese python in a Hong Kong park after the snake grabbed one of her dogs and wouldn’t let go.

Catherine Leonard, 41, was walking her pooches in the Sai Kung Country Park when the snake put the squeeze on her 4-year-old pooch, Poppy.

“I kicked it and I tried to pull Poppy free,” she said. “The snake was twisted around her.”

Poppy managed to get away and the python slithered away.

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A new breed of flying fox – an orange fur-coated fruit bat with white stripes – has been found on the Philippine island of Mindoro.

Last year, scientists discovered a new type of parrot, as well as a long-tailed forest mouse, on a southern island within the archipelago.